Coast rep going far in game

WHEN Chelsea Ansell first played Aussie rules among under-14 boys, she was virtually unstoppable.

"To be honest, they didn't want to go near a girl," she said, "so it worked in my favour."

Still, she showed immediate potential against them and when a competition for girls was created on the Sunshine Coast last year, she was promptly selected in representative teams.

In October, the promising forward helped an Australian under-16 female team claim a series win against New Zealand.

Coolum Beach Breakers president Lynden Griffiths said: "She's great around the club and a very good player, obviously.

"She's got a nice, long kick and it's a pretty consistent sort of kick, which is important, especially in girls' footy."

Ansell is one of a growing number of females giving Australian rules a go.

Many regions have established girls and women's competitions and earlier this year the AFL hosted an exhibition match in Melbourne involving the nation's best players.

"They're aiming to have a football league like the men by 2020," Ansell said.

"It would be great to play football like that, although I'd also like to have a job in the AFL as well, whether it is promoting female football or something to do with that. Or perhaps in sports science or physio."

Ansell also captained the under-16 Queensland Oztag team this year and was the Coolum High age champion.